Mud gun



Dec. 7, 1937. c. w. AIQDREWS ET AL 2,101,306

MUD GUN Filed Sept. a, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 7, c w AND E 5- AL 2,101,306

MUD GUN Filed Sept. 8, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 7, 1937. c. w. ANDREWS ET AL MUD GUN 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1936 iVIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIII 1 5 at; I Cfifleaff flfi fears Oka /56212010 Patented Dec. 7, 1937 'UNETB ST'EES MUD GUN Ciiarles W. Andrews and Charles E. Dougan, Chicage, 11]., assignors, by mesne assignments, to August F. Giese, Jn, Gary, Ind.

Application September 8, 1936, Serial No. 99,726

10 Claims;

This invention relates to a metallurgical gun and more particularly to a mud gun of the type which is applicable for plugging up the tapping hole of a blast furnace to shut off the flow of V molten metal and slag therefrom.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art that mud guns comprise means for feeding a predetermined amount of suitable clay-like material of proper consistency into the tapping hole of a 1 furnace. It is further understood that one of the important requirements in the use of mud guns is to provide equipment which will maintain the gun in proper relative position with respect to the furnace during the mud or clay discharging operation. If substantial relative outward movement between the gun and furnace takes place at this time, proper closure of the tapping hole can not be effected. In order to reduce danger of injury from molten metal -or slag to the operator of the equipment, it is highly desirable that latching or clamping of the mud gun in its desired operating position be effected automatically. Various means for automatically looking a mud gun in place have been relied on in the past, but these mechanisms for the most part have not been entirely satisfactory for either they' could not be relied upon because of certain inherent mechanical faults, or because the mechanism lacked the desired degree of flexibility.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved automatic clamping mechanism which will secure the mud gun in its desired operating position.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means responsive to the recoil of the gun to lock the gun carriage in its desired operating position.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for locking the mud .gun structure in place after the gun has been moved into its desired discharging position with respect to a furnace.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel means for causing angular movement of the mud gun in a substantially vertical plane as it is moved away from the furnace.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel tilting mechanism for mud guns.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide an improved mud gun and mud gun supporting structure.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristics of our invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Our invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner of construction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of our invention illustrating the mud gun and the mud gun carriage disposed in operative position with respect to the furnace;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of our invention illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view partly in .cross section of the gun carriage locking means showing the various elements thereof in their respective positions prior to the locking operation;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view partly in cross section of the gun carriage locking means showing the respective elements thereof after the locking operation; and

Figure 5 is a front elevational view partly in cross section of the gun carriage locking means taken along the line V-V of Figure 4.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the mud gun structure illustrated therein including mud gun G is shown as being mounted on a stationary supporting structure S in close proximity to the furnace F. Furnace F is provided with the usual tapping hole ill in front of which extends the runner trough l I for receiving the discharged molten metal, the tapping hole and the running trough being below the level of supporting floor l2 on which the gun carriage structure is mounted and operated.

The mud gun G may be of any of the well known and existing types driven by steam, electricity, or otherwise. The structure may be like that disclosed in the August F. Giese, United States Patent No. 1,852,560, issued April 5, 1932. Briefly, the gun structure as shown in Figure 1 comprises a barrel or cylinder I3 having a discharge nozzle I4 extending from one end thereof. A piston (not shown) disposed within barrel [3 is operated by a motor l5 through the motor drive mechanism. l6 at the rear of the gun.

The gun G includes a mounting jacket I! which pivotally supports the gun at the end of a carriage boom I8. At its inner end boom I8 is secured to a vertical shaft l9 which is suitably journaled in bearings 20 and Zl which in turn are secured to stationary structure S by means of a structural member 22. A reinforcing arm 23 may be provided if desired between the outer end of boom I8 and the lower end. of vertical shaft I 9, the lower end of arm 23 being journaled to shaft 59 in any suitable manner, such as by bearing 23.

The mechanism for effecting the desired angular movement of the boom I 8 in a horizontal plane includes a cable drum 24 secured to the top of the boom. More specifically drum 24 is mounted on a short stud or axle member 25 which is suitably journaled in a bearing 26 carried on boom l8. An intermediate portion of a flexible cable 28 is wrapped several times about drum 24. One end of flexible cable 28 is connected through a coupling member 29, which will presently be described, to a bracket 30 mounted on the furnace wall. The opposite end of cable 28 is tensioned in any suitable manner (not shown). As will be apparent to those skilled in the art rotational movement of the mud gun and carriage in a horizontal plane may be obtained by simply causing drum 24 to rotate, such rotation of drum 24 causes cable 28 to unwind on one side and wind up on the other side.

Any suitable type motor may be employed for effecting rotation of drum 24. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, an electric motor 3|, mounted on the top of boom I8, is adapted to transmit rotational motion to drum 24 through a coupling mechanism which includes a gear reduction box 34. More specifically, drive shaft 32 of motor 3| is connected through a coupling member 33 to gear reduction 34. The last driven member 35 of the gear reduction box 34 carries a drive gear 36 which is adapted to mesh with a bevel gear 21 secured to the top of drum 24.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, mud gun G must be raised to substantially horizontal position when the gun is swung away from the furnace into an inoperative position.

One of the important novel features of this invention is to provide an improved means for effecting this tilting of the gun as it is moved to its inoperative position. The tilting mechanism, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, includes a chain 31 which has one end connected to mud gun G at a point 38 which is disposed forwardly of the axis of angular movement of the mud gun and which has its other end secured through a coupling member 39 to a point 48 on stationary structure S. For a reason which will presently be appreciated point 40 is located between the furnace and the vertical shaft is. An intermediate portion of chain 3! passes over an idling pulley or guide member 44 which is mounted in a yoke 42 carried by the boom or gun carriage !8. By disposing point 38 forwardly of the axis of angular movement of mud gun G in a vertical plane and by disposing point 49 between the axis of angular movement of the gun carriage and the furnace, it will be observed that the distance between idling pulley 4i and point 49 increases as the gun carriage is swung away from the furnace F. This increased distance between member 41 and point 40 causes a corresponding decrease in the distance between member 4% and point 38 with the result that the mud gun G is moved upwardly about its axis of rotation as the gun carriage is swung away from the furnace.

Another important feature of this invention is the manner of locking the mud gun and gun carriage structure in its operative'position. The locking mechanism includes a tubular coupling member 45 having a bifurcated arm 44, the extremity of which is rotatably'mounted on a vertical stud or shaft 2-5. Disposed on shaft 45 carried by boom l8 and between the fingers 46 and 41 of bifurcated arm 44 is an idling pulley 48. Drive cable 28 is adapted to pass over idling pulley 48 and centrally through tubular coupling member 43. As will be observed upon close inspection of Figure 2 of the drawings, coupling member 29 which secures the furnace end of cable 28 is adapted to be telescoped into tubular coupling member 43 when mud gun G is swung into its operative position. As will now be described means is provided for automatically look ing coupling member 43 to coupling member 29 after mud gun G has assumed its desired position.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, and of the drawings, it will be seen that coupling member 29 has mounted thereon a rectangular member 49, the upper surface of which is serrated for a purpose which will presently be described. Coupling member 29 may be secured to cable 28 in any desired manner. As shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings a cable clamping member 50 is provided which is secured to coupling member 29 by a rivet 5|.

Mounted on tubular coupling member 43 and extending through the upper wall thereof is a locking plate 52. Looking plate 52 has a serrated inner surface which is adapted to engage the serrated upper surface of member 49. Extending through an opening 53 in the lower wall of coupling member 43 is a cam 54 which is adapted to engage member 49 and force the upper serrated surface of member 49 into locking engagement with plate 52. Cam 54 is rigidly mounted on a shaft 55, the latter being freely journaled in a bracket 56 secured to coupling member 43.

Secured to one end of shaft 55 is a crank arm 51 having a substantial mass of metal or other heavy material 58 carried on its free end. The other end of shaft 55 has a manual operating handle 59 secured thereto. The angular relationship of arm 51 to cam 54 is important. Arm 5'! extends upwardly and rearwardly with respect to the mud gun in its unlocked position, as may be seen best in Figure 3. Arm 5'! extends upwardly and forwardly with respect to the mud gun whencam 54 is in its element locking position, as may be seen best in Figure 4. By this arrangement the arm, 51, with its weight, 58, tends to force the serrated bar, 49, against the stationary block, 52. When the gun is being drawn toward the furnace, friction of 49 on the cam, 54, tends to rotate the cam in the direction of releasing the pressure on 49. This rotation can be assisted, if necessary, by roughing the surface of the cam and also the lower surface of 49. As soon, however, as the gun reaches its final position and discharges, the recoil will cause movement of weight 58 in such a direction as to effect rotational movement of cam 54 in a reverse direction. This action causes the serrated surfaces of 49 and 52, to interlock in which position they will be held by the cam, which rotates in accordance with the upward lift of 49 in engaging its teeth on 52. The weight, 58, causes this upward motion and results in the immediate interlocking of the two surfaces on the slightest return movement of 52. The operation of the preferred embodiment of our invention will now be described. Assume that the various elements of the mud gun assembly are in the position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings and that it is now desired to swing the mud gun away from furnace F into its inoperative position as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. Manual operating handle 59 in a manner to cause rotation of drum 24 in a' clockwise direction. As drum 24 rotates drive cable 28 causes the mud gun carriage including boom l8 to rotate about the vertical axis of shaft l9. As the gun carriage is moved in a counterclockwise direction chain 31 causes an upward tilting of mud gun G due to the fact that the distance between guide member 4| and point 40 on stationary member S is constantly increasing. When the gun carriage has reached the position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2, motor 3| is deenergized and further movement of the gun and carriage ceases. Mud gun G has by this time reached a substantially horizontal position as desired.

Assume that it is now desired to move mud gun G into its operative position and there to effect a discharge of mud or suitable material into tapping hole ll) of furnace F. Motor 3| is now energized in such a manner as to cause rotation of drum 24 in a counterclockwise direction. As drum 24 moves in a counterclockwise direction, cable 28 to the left of drum 24 winds up on the drum while that portion of the cable to the right of drum 24 unwinds from the drum. Due to the fact that the distance between guide member 4| and point 43 is now decreasing, mud gun G is being tilted downward as the carriage swings into position in front of furnace F. Motor 3| is deenergized when mud gun G has reached its desired position in tapping hole H] of furnace F. The recoil of the mud gun and gun carriage following the first discharge of mud from the gun causes the weight 58 to move counter-clockwise which in turn effects rotational movement of cam 54 in the same direction. This action immediately causes the serrated edges to move together into locking engagement. In some cases it may be found desirable to modify the serrated surfaces making definite teeth sloping in the direction of the furnace so that the bar, 49, may ride through more easily.

From the above description, it will be seen that we have provided an extremely simple structure which is economical to manufacture and which is rugged and reliable in use. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one of the advantages of this construction is that it does not necessitate the gun being locked in the same position each time it is presented to the tapping hole of the furnace. Thus if the tapping hole has become worn, the gun could be moved further into the hole and yet be latched by this same mechanism in that position. As a matter of fact, continued forward movement of the carriage, even after the latching operation has been effected, will result in the disengagement of the latch. This disengagement is effected by the counter-weighted lever being swung rearwardly, thus bringing the eccentric or cam out of locking position. Thereafter, upon recoil or other rearward movement of the gun and carriage, the latch is again set to lock the gun against continued rearward movement.

Although some rearward movement of the gun and carriage occurs at the outset of the recoil movement, the gun is not retracted thereby a sufficient amount to detract from its efiicient operation at the furnace. Weight 58 is not thrown over during the forward movement of the gun, for engagement of the serrated members is effected only when the movement is reversed by the recoil of the gun, as the first quantity of mud or clay is discharged therefrom. In some cases, it is desirable to use ratchet teeth instead of simple serrated plates so that the gun may pass over the teeth to the furnace without difliculty, but on recoil the teeth will interengage and assist in the throwing over of Weight 58 to its locking position. By the use of ratchet teeth insteadof simple serrated plates, any possibility of the gun locking itself during its inward travel toward the furnace is avoided. Weight 58 is only thrown over in response to the sudden recoil of the gunas the first quantity of mud or clay is discharged therefrom.

From the above description it will also be appreciated that we have provided an extremely simple tilting mechanism for the mud gun. By simply moving the carriage away from the furnace the mud gun is automatically raised to its desired horizontal position through an extremely simple yet reliable mechanism.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will of course be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In apparatus for closing furnace tapping holes including a mud gun and a supporting structure therefor, the combination comprising a stationary member and means responsive to recoil movement of said gun for locking said structure to said member.

2. In apparatus for closing furnace tapping holes including a mud gun and a supporting structure therefor, the combination comprising a stationary member, and automatic means including a member of relatively heavy mass for looking said structure to said member, said automatic means being operable in response to sudden movement of said gun by reason of the inertia of said member.

3. In apparatus for closing furnace tapping holes including a mud gun and a supporting structure therefor, the combination comprising a stationary member, and means responsive to the first discharge of said gun for locking said structure to said member.

4. The combination with a furnace having a tapping hole, of a carriage, a mud gun shiftable on said carriage into and out of discharging position, a support for said carriage operable to move said carriage into and out of operating position relative to said furnace, telescoping members connected respectively to said furnace and to said carriage, and means responsive to the discharge of said gun for locking said members together, thereby to maintain said gun in desired operating position.

5. The combination with a furnace having a tapping hole, of a carriage, a mud gun shiftable on said carriage into and out of discharging position, a support for said carriage operable to move said carriage into and out of operating position relative to said furnace, telescoping coupling members having complementary serrated edges connected respectively to said furnace and to said carriage, and automatic means for causing said serrated edges to engage each other.

6. The combination with a furnace having a tapping hole, of a carriage, a mud gun shiftable on said carriage into and out of discharging posito said carriage, and responsive means for efiecting and maintaining engagement of said serrated edges.

7. The combination comprising a furnace having a tapping hole therein, a mud gun carriage 'movably supported inproximity to the tapping hole of said furnace, a mud gun tiltably mounted on said carriage, a gun swinging cable, a coupling bar connecting one end of said cable to said furnace, a latching bar mounted on said carriage and adapted to engage said coupling bar, and automatic means for'locking said latching bar to said coupling bar. I

8. The combination comprising a furnace having a tapping hole therein, a mud gun carriage movably supported in proximity to the tapping hole of said furnace, a mud gun tiltably mounted on said carriage, a gun swinging cable, a coupling and, adapted to engage said coupling bar, and

means responsive to the discharge of said gun for locking said bars together. 5

9. The combination comprising a gun, a movable gun carriage supporting said gun adapted to be moved to a predetermined position, and means responsive to the discharge of said gun for restraining further movement of said carriage. 1

10. The combination comprising a gun, a movable'gun carriage supporting said gun adapted to be moved to a predetermined position, a station-- ary member, a coupling member secured to said stationary member, a complementary coupling 1 member connected to said carriage, andinertia' actuated means for locking said coupling memybers together in response to sudden movement of said carriage away from said predetermined CHARLES W. ANDREWS. CHARLES E. DOUGAN. 

